Until taking up their appointments as territorial leaders of the Australia Southern Territory Commissioners James and Carolyn Knaggs have served exclusively in their home territory of USA Eastern.

They were commissioned as officers in 1976 and following a brief appointment at Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware Divisional Headquarters they became Corps Officers.

Following seven years as corps leaders they were appointed to the Greater New York Division where, the then Captain James Knaggs was the Divisional Youth Secretary and, the then, Captain Carolyn Knaggs served as the Divisional Corps Cadet Counsellor.

In 1987 they were appointed to the youth department at territorial headquarters. In 1989 they returned to the Eastern Pennsylvannia and Delaware Division where James became the Divisional Secretary and Divisional Men’s Fellowship Secretary and Carolyn was Divisional League of Mercy Secretary.

Following three years at DHQ Captain James Knaggs was appointed as Territorial Youth Secretary in 1992 and then in 1994 he became Territorial Evangelism and Corps Growth Secretary. During this time Captain Carolyn Knaggs had the positions of Territorial Corps Cadets and Junior Soldiers Bureau Director and Territorial Stewardship Bureau Director.

In 1996, the then, Major James Knaggs became General Secretary for Field Operations at Greater New York Division and Major Carolyn Knaggs as Divisional Director of Volunteers and Current Issues Secretary with additional chaplaincy responsibilities.

As Lieut-Colonels, in 1999, the Knaggs became divisional leaders for Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware with James being Divisional Commander and Carolyn the Associate Divisional Commander.

Appointments as Territorial Secretary for Personnel (Colonel James Knaggs) and Territorial League of Mercy Secretary (Colonel Carolyn Knaggs) in 2000 were followed in 2003 with Colonel James Knaggs being appointed Chief Secretary and Colonel Carolyn Knaggs Territorial Secretary for Women’s Ministries; Fellowship of the Silver Star.

Growing up with Salvationists parents The Salvation Army has always been their place of worship. They have a deep love for Jesus and are extremely grateful for the example shown them by their parents and faithful local officers.

They continually desire to intelligently discern what God requires of them and, in Christ’s strength, to enthusiastically follow his plan for them. They passionately want to be used to bring people into God’s kingdom.

Their family includes three sons, two nephews and a niece. Jason and his wife Leslie are Salvation Army Officers, and the parents of the Knaggs’ first grandson, Jacob Matthew while Jonathan is married to Jacy and is working as a Graphic Designer for The Salvation Army and the parents of the Knaggs’ first grand-daughter, Sarah Riley. The Knaggs’ youngest son, Joel, entered heaven when he was tragically taken from them at the age of three.
Michael, Stephen and Allison Honsberger joined the immediate family in May 2000 upon the ultimate promotion to glory of their parents who were Carolyn’s sister and brother in law. Michael, married to Katie, serves as a Sergeant in the US Army as a combat medic. Stephen is employed as an attendant in a hospital while pursuing his career as a rock star. Allison is employed by The Salvation Army in New Jersey as a Fundraising Assistant. God has kept them all together by His grace in troublesome and triumphant times.